Progressive Bahrain
Bahrain is by far the most progressive, liberal and open country in the Gulf. Laws protecting women’s rights, the rights of minorities and enshrining cultural tolerance are testament to this. Women hold key positions in government and business and play a strong role in society. Bahrain is a family-friendly and tolerant country for expatriates.
Compared with elsewhere in the region, Bahrain’s religious and racial minorities enjoy equal rights and representation. The small Jewish community is respected and protected, while Jews and Christians hold prominent positions in the public and private sectors.
Constitutional Monarchy
Most Bahrainis support reform, not revolution. Although there is still much to be achieved, King Hamad has put Bahrain on the path towards a reformed Constitutional Monarchy. Bahrainis today enjoy a wider range of rights and privileges compared to just 10 years ago.
Going back to Freedom House and other reports on Bahrain prior to 2011, we see praise of the vision and efforts for transforming Bahrain into a Constitutional Monarchy with enshrined rights and freedoms for its citizens. This vision deserves support.
Reforms & human rights
One of the main reasons why the casualty rate has decreased sharply since 2011 is an intensive retraining program for the security forces; as well as new codes of conduct clearly prohibiting torture and excessive use of force. All of this has helped in managing civil disturbances with restraint, despite increasing violence from rioters.
Such reforms are just some of the measures implemented as a result of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry recommendations. The opposition is lying when it says that none of these measures have been adopted.
Despite the opposition’s obsession with “martyrs”, more police are now dying than rioters: Eight police died since early 2012 (13 since the beginning of the unrest); compared with five protesters who died as a result of police action. 2,500 police have been injured in the unrest.
Exploitation of children
The opposition has been putting children in harm’s way. Children have been radicalized and used to build roadblocks and throw rocks. Two young children were seriously injured in March 2014 when the bomb they were transporting exploded.
Opposition
The opposition is not a democratic or representative movement. The key figures behind the leading opposition grouping, Al-Wefaq Islamic Society are Ayatollahs and theocratic clerics.
Of those who joined the 2011 protests calling for reform; professionals, graduates, moderate Sunnis and Shias deserted the protest movement in large numbers; leaving behind militants with a sectarian and Islamist agenda. Al Wefaq and their supporters have effectively rejected the path of Dialogue numerous times through their actions.
Terrorism & Iran
In January 2014 shipments of weapons from Iran were impounded. Iran has been involved in arming, training and funding militants. Iranian TV channels (Al-Alam, Al-Mayadeen, Al-Manar…) have been radicalizing young people and inciting them to violence.
Iran’s sponsorship of terrorism has resulted in dozens of attacks using explosive devices in public places. In March 2014 three police were killed by a bomb, the greatest single loss of life in three years.
Dialogue
Rather than adopting confidence-building measures in support of the Crown Prince’s initiative for recommencing the National Dialogue, opposition groups in February 2014 embarked on a new wave of protests and rioting. Dialogue is still the only acceptable way out of the ongoing crisis; but this will take political will and flexibility from both sides.